The first virtual network linking women in politics across the world has been launched. 'iKNOW Politics, short for the International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics, will connect women political leaders online across borders, generations and faiths, equipping them with the information, expertise and advice they need to make their political mark.

The need for this resource is acute: though the number of women in politics has grown in recent years, they are still severely under-represented. In 2006, only 16.8 percent of parliamentarians worldwide were women, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), while today only 19 of the worlds 194 governments are headed by women, according to the Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership.

H.E. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia, emphasized the critical importance of the forum: "While the winds of change have begun to blow, women remain on the fringes of political power. That is why the creation of iKNOW Politics, the premier network for women in politics, will provide women with the tools necessary to participate meaningfully in every facet of political life,"she said.

The global networks on-line workspace — www.iKNOWPolitics.org — is designed for elected officials, candidates, political party leaders, researchers and practitioners.  Current women leaders were surveyed to help design the site, which features tools and information on and examples of campaigns, elections and quotas, political parties, advocacy and lobbying, skills building, legislation and political transition periods.

An online library includes reports, handbooks and training materials from international agencies, research institutions, academia and civil society groups. A database of over 100 experts on women in politics will allow users to directly field specific queries; the site will later consolidate the responses in a permanent archive. Other highlights include a virtual forum for mediated discussions and high-profile interviews.

Five institutions have combined their resources and expertise to create iKNOW Politics:  the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

Becoming a Member of iKNOW Politics

There are three main reasons to visit the Web site and become a member of iKNOW Politics: access resources, including an online library and expertise of other users, experts and practitioners; create knowledge through mediated discussion forums and the exchange of information; and share experiences, lessons learned and best practices with members of a global community committed to the advancement of women in politics.

To become a member of iKNOW Politics, simply log on to the site at www.iknowpoltics.org and create a new account. Membership enables you to add content and access all of the sites resources and features.